One of the results of Alexander's conquest was the establishment of Ptolemy's dynasty in Egypt for 300 years. There has recently been published a historical novel about this, the worlds most disfunctional family, and I recommend it for a background book to Alexander studies.

“The Ptolemies”, by Duncan Sprott

Some months ago I received notice of a new book about to be published about The Ptolemies and pre ordered it on the mistaken assumption that someone had finally written a new history of the worlds sickest family. When it arrived, I was disappointed to discover that it was a novel, but I read it anyway; I’m glad I did.

Anything that helps me to understand the convoluted interpersonal relationships of this confusing historical period is a plus. Though it only goes as far as the early reign of Ptolemy Philadelphos, it greatly aids in understanding just who was married to whom and how they were previously related. This is important when your sister may be your wife or your Aunt your husband’s other wife or your sister your mother. To top it all off many of the players have the same names, It’s really a genealogists nightmare. the family trees must look like a plate of angel hair pasta.

It begins with a short history of Alexander which makes the old amateurish error of judging characters out of their moral time frame, but is accurate. None of the other characters fares much better all being broadly painted Christian black and white in hindsight. Sprott decides whether this is a good guy or a bad guy and puts on the black, or the white, hat accordingly. Besides being morally simplistic, it uses a set of morals alien to the times.

There is a wealth of cultural background information which may, or may not, be true; in a novel that is of little importance, but some of the details are so unforgivably wrong as to be funny. The scene with all the Ptolemy family sitting on the beach in 3rd century B.C.E. Alexandria eating tomatoes and cranberries would be inexcusable in middle school and proves the editing to be as unsophisticated as the writing.

Though this is mainly the biography of Ptolemy Soter and his family we are at last treated to the tale of Arsinoe, who is surely the most interesting woman who ever lived. The author leaves us hanging as to the final fate of Arsinoe, who is once again to become a Queen, but he intimates that he will continue the story in another book. I imagine its publication will depend upon the success of this one and I will surely buy it if it is published. For all its faults, this is a very useful book and a good entertainment. Just remember it is a novel, not a scholarly history, and take it as suggested background material. As that, it is excellent.